District of Columbia

District of Columbia Licensing Overview

District of Columbia licenses 61 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are about average when compared to other states. The state's licensing laws rank 33rd in the nation. District of Columbia licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Interior Designer (3 other), Dental Assistant (8 other).

On average, District of Columbia requires $434 in licensing fees, 275 days of education and about 1 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Interior Designer, Midwife, Direct Entry.

Which occupation in a District of Columbia is the most regulated?

Out of the 61 occupations that require an occupational license in District of Columbia, a license for Interior Designer has the highest burden. A Interior Designer license requires $1505 in fees, 1 exams, 6 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupation in a District of Columbia is the least regulated?

Out of the 61 occupations that require an occupational license in District of Columbia, a license for Coach, Head (High School Sports) has the lowest burden. A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in District of Columbia is the most expensive?

An occupational license in District of Columbia costs the most for Interior Designer. A Interior Designer license requires $1505 in fees, 1 exams, 6 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in District of Columbia is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in District of Columbia costs the least for Coach, Head (High School Sports). A Coach, Head (High School Sports) license requires $0 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 2 clock hours of education.

Which occupational license in District of Columbia takes the most time to obtain?

In District of Columbia, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Interior Designer. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Interior Designer license requires $1505 in fees, 1 exams, 6 years experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in District of Columbia takes the least time to obtain?

In District of Columbia, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Auctioneer, Wildlife Control Operator, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Earth Driller, Water Well, Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Coach, Head (High School Sports).

In District of Columbia, which occupational licenses require exams?

In District of Columbia, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Interior Designer, HVAC Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Athletic Trainer, Preschool Teacher, Public School, Midwife, Direct Entry, Crane Operator, Barber, Cosmetologist, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Taxi Driver/Chauffeur, Pest Control Applicator, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Child Care Home, Family, Massage Therapist, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Emergency Medical Technician, Security Guard, Unarmed, Wildlife Control Operator, Coach, Head (High School Sports). School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Washington, D.C., licenses 60 of the 102 lower-income occupations studied here, and its laws are the 38th most burdensome. On average, D.C.’s licenses require $400 in fees, 261 days of education and experience, and roughly one exam. D.C. ranks as the 26th most broadly and onerously licensed state, placing it in the middle of the pack.

D.C. is one of only four states that license interior designers—the most arduously licensed occupation in this study. Aspiring interior designers must complete six years (2,190 days) of education and pay $1,485 in fees to work in D.C. Such high barriers to entry defy common sense given that the vast majority of states do not deem licensure for interior designers necessary.

D.C. imposes education burdens on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for others that likely present greater risks to the public. For example, D.C.’s license for dental assistants requires 211 days of education. Not only is this more than double the average of 92 days required by the nine states that license the occupation, but it is also substantially more than D.C.’s EMT license requires. To become licensed, EMTs need complete only about 28 days (four credit hours) of education. D.C. could open up employment opportunities for lower-income workers by reducing or repealing many of its occupational licensing requirements, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Interior Designer	3	1505	2190	None	6 years	1	0	18
2	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	45	1825	None	5 years	1	0	0
2	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	45	1825	None	5 years	1	0	0
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	45	1825	None	5 years	1	0	0
2	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	45	1825	None	5 years	1	0	0
6	Athletic Trainer	49	390	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
7	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	409	1460	4 years	None	3	0	0
8	Midwife, Direct Entry	37	1300	1095	3 years	None	1	12	21
9	Crane Operator	16	435	730	None	2 years	1	0	18
10	Barber	51	230	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	10	18
11	Cosmetologist	51	175	350	1500 clock hours	None	2	10	18
12	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	350	365	None	1 year	4	0	0
13	Taxi Driver/Chauffeur	13	275	365	None	1 year	1	0	18
14	Pest Control Applicator	51	413	365	None	1 year	3	0	0
15	Dental Assistant	8	190	211	1 day & 900 clock hours	None	0	12	18
16	Makeup Artist	37	175	140	600 clock hours	None	2	10	18
16	Skin Care Specialist	51	175	140	600 clock hours	None	2	10	18
18	Manicurist	51	230	82	350 clock hours	None	2	10	18
19	Child Care Home, Family	44	300	2	13 clock hours	None	1	12	18
20	Massage Therapist	45	457	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	18
21	School Bus Driver	51	275	0	None	None	6	0	21
22	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	245	0	None	None	5	0	21
23	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	225	0	None	None	5	0	21
24	Truck Driver, Other	51	215	0	None	None	4	0	21
25	Emergency Medical Technician	51	143	28	4 credit hours	None	2	0	18
26	Auctioneer	28	740	0	None	None	0	0	18
27	Security Guard, Unarmed	34	190	8	48 clock hours	None	1	0	18
28	Wildlife Control Operator	23	50	0	1 clock hour	None	1	0	18
29	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Pipelayer Contractor	27	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
29	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	655	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
45	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	442	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Fire Alarm Installer	39	266	0	None	None	0	0	0
59	Security Alarm Installer	37	266	0	None	None	0	0	0
61	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	0	0	2 clock hours	None	1	0	0